Surge Protection

What exactly do surge protectors do?

A surge protection device is like a superhero for your electronics! It helps protect your computer, TV, and other things that use electricity from something called a power surge.

A power surge happens when there is too much electricity going through the wires in your house all at once. This can happen if there is a big storm nearby or if a big machine turns on or off somewhere close by. When this happens, it can make your electronics not work well or even break them.

A surge protection device is like a shield that catches the extra electricity and sends it to the ground instead of letting it go to your electronics. Think of it like a big bucket that catches the extra water when it rains, so it doesn't flood your house.

There are different types of surge protection devices. Some you can plug into an outlet, like a lamp, and it will protect the things you plug into it. Others are installed in your whole house and can protect everything from power surges.

In summary, surge protection devices are a superhero for your electronics, they catch and redirect extra electricity that can damage your devices and appliances during a power surge.

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What is the difference between an RCD/RCBO (safety switch) and a Surge Protector?

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RCBO (Residual Current Circuit Breaker with Overcurrent Protection):

1. An RCBO is a specialized circuit breaker that combines two essential functions: residual current protection and overcurrent protection.
2. Residual current protection is crucial for safety, as it detects any imbalance in the flow of electricity caused by a fault, such as a short circuit or electrical leakage. When it senses such an imbalance, it trips the circuit to prevent electric shocks.
3. Overcurrent protection, on the other hand, safeguards against excessive current flowing through the circuit, which can lead to overheating and potentially cause fires. The RCBO monitors the current passing through the circuit and interrupts it if it exceeds the safe limit.

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Surge Protection Device (SPD):

1. A surge protection device serves as a defense mechanism for your electrical devices against sudden voltage spikes, or surges, in the power supply.
2. These surges can occur due to various reasons such as lightning strikes, power grid disturbances, or switching operations in the electrical system. When such surges happen, they can damage sensitive electronic equipment like computers, TVs, and home appliances.
   
3. The surge protection device acts as a barrier between the incoming power supply and your devices. It diverts excess voltage away from your equipment, preventing them from being damaged by the surge.